Discussions over the same were conducted during the BCCI Apex Council meet on Friday. As per the tentative schedule, 60 matches can be held in 44 days. The broadcasters though are said to be unhappy with the tentative schedule. They want the BCCI to extend the window further by a week so that they can cash in on the Diwali weekend. Also the narrowed down schedule will see more afternoon matches, which are not as big a draw as night games.
Broadcasters want to make up for some lost revenue due to coronavirus pandemic through ads during Diwali weekend. However, extending the tournament seems difficult since India have to leave for the Australia tour and follow all COVID-19 procedures in places. The first Test of India’s tour Down Under will start from December 4.
” If the IPL concludes by November 8, the team can fly to Australia by the 10th, undergo the mandatory Covid tests and start with practice and warm-up matches so that the first Test can begin as scheduled. Also, India might want to play a day-night warm-up game ahead of the proposed day-night Test, and that will add days to the schedule,” a senior BCCI official told The Times of India.
The IPL governing council is waiting for the ICC to officially postpone the 2020 T20 World Cup before making a decision on the IPL. The 13th edition of the Indian T20 league was suspended indefinitely following the coronavirus pandemic gripping the country.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
